NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! — Page 2

I could possibly go along with Avenue Q winning as best Musical, which considers all aspects of a show. But Best Score ahead of WICKED - you gotta be kidding!

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The songs in WICKED are very interesting. The first two times I saw it, I didn't really care for it. The only song that I could even remember enough to hum to was POPULAR. After I saw it again and again (don't ask) it really grew on me. Now I really adore the show and the songs. Idina belting out NO GOOD DEED give me chills. There are quite a few very good songs in there, in my opinion. They were not instant favorites, but they really did grow on me.

That said, I'm so happy that Rod is going to be sleeping with Tony tonight.

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As always, I guess it comes down to personal taste. When I saw Wicked I was blown away by what I thought was one great song after another. (FOR GOOD, I'M NOT THAT GIRL, POPULAR are particularly oustanding pieces of writing). I play the CD over and over and I think it is full of superb songs - great music and even greater lyrics. The Avenue Q score I found "cute" but nothing I would ever want to listen to a second time.

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I like Wicked, but I think Avenue Q deserved every award it got. I was so thrilled when it won Best Musical I brought out the champagne!

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I have to chime in behind Dano and Bob8 here. To my admittedly middle-aged eyes, AVENUE Q, though clever and smart, remains an extended Sat. Nite Live idea, a Hasty Pudding Club sort of showt. To me, a bit slim and rarified, if accomplished. If you're not already a fan, I don't think last night's performance made new ones. (People who gnash their teeth or the pop culture in WICKED -- why is using the word "sucked"in a song so much clever-er? I don't think Messrs. Hart and Hammerstein would cheer. But that's my old fart POV. I own it.)

For some of us, it's just so precious and loaded with collegiate humor. Whatever WICKED'S shortcomings, and I understand the feelings voiced by many, it is a popular entertainment in the old school sense, and will consistently find a far larger audience, because it's built on Oz mythology, is (whole) family friendly, and has a truly satisfying happy ending -- to a well-built story -- that sends people out of the theater feeling good. And the Tony number, though spliced together badly and not particularly a good night for La Menzel, will sell the show to many, many people.

But there's plenty to go around. AVENUE Q (and CAROLINE) "needed" the Tony more than WICKED,so it's probably a good thing that edgier, more "original" (hate that word) material scored big. I go back to the year SUNDAY IN THE PARK was eclipsed by LA CAGE. Both shows still have their fans, and both ran. I think Q and WICKED will do well. Now CAROLINE -- my own favorite this season -- has a rough road ahead... But that's another thread.

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Corine -
I'd love to see it, but can't. That's why I'm asking you (the Ave Q lovers) to explain it to me.

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I have to say, first, that having not seen Q or heard all of the score my opinions are slanted. One of the reasons I chose not to see Q, though, was that it did strike me as "cute" and "smart" and, as you stated, as an extended Saturday Night Live sketch. I'm not saying that I would not see it, but it would not be my first choice.

Wicked, on the other hand, blew me away. I came away from the show, having not heard any of it before, being able to hum quite a few of the melodies. I would have paid full price just to hear "The Wizard and I". I was thrilled for Idina but very upset for the show itself and for Schwartz. The performances are so strong, though, I do wonder what will happen to the show when Idina and Kristen finally do leave. Perhaps that will be the true test of its staying power. I believe there are weaknesses in the show (the writing of the male roles in particular) but that is actually part of what impressed me the most- the show had tremendous impact even with its imperfections.

I also wonder if Q's win was part of a reaction against big corporate productions? Disney has done a lot for Broadway, and now Universal comes in and produces Wicked. However, it would be a shame for Theatre to suffer the same kind of erosion into formula dribble that has happened in Hollywood. It doesn't seem to have happened yet, but it looks as though the potential is there.

So I legal-Napstered the three songs from Wicked whose melodies I remembered and made a disc that I labelled The Three Good Songs from Wicked. I refused to put any more than $3.97 more cents into that show's coffers. And you know what, I couldn't listen to The Wizard and I more than twice. It's just crap.

It is also weird that you would worry that Broadway would devolve into "formula dribble" when Wicked is more of an example of that than anything else.

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Updated On: 6/7/04 at 11:38 AM

That Wicked looks wicked cool, I loves me the screaming type GURRRRL power shows, yahoooooo

But I was BUMMED that there wasn't any old school break dancin' or my favorite ever "poppin'".when I saw LL come on I was like YEAHHHHH, bring it dawg, but he had that old lady, Elaine Strach or Angleo Linsbury or something, not coooool.He was so great in Deliver Us From Eva, now THAT would make a AWESOME musical!!!!

Oh well at least that puppet show one, I love the funny puppets show!

I gotta run cause Mom says I spend too much time on this Board, well this and Justin4Eva, if you wanna IM me, please DU, you can reach me at BROADWAY*str8UPLUVA@yono.com

-Corine2
I couldn't agree with you more. Either way, I can't imagine what it would be like to see any of the Tony winning (or Tony nominated) shows now.